Why is This SO Painfully Confusing

First of all, I want to be clear that I’m REALLY excited about discovering Ashley Wood and Co. The figures have become my obsession, and I’m really enjoying the acquisition process. I’m so captivated by them, that I’ve been eagerly trying to figure out the story behind the figures (see my recent post about TK story). However, it has proven to be a real challenge to figure out where to go to find the comics, graphic novels, whatever, that I’m frankly losing a lot of my enthusiasm for becoming involved with the franchise. There are tiny little pieces of story all over the place, but no clear source to use as guidance. I’m REALLY frustrated. Is this just wreckless mismanagement of fame? An overly convoluted exercise in scarcity marketing? Or am I missing out on something else entirely? I’d like to tell Ash and his partners this message: “I’m trying to give you MONEY for your stories. Please help me give you my MONEY.”

Can anyone assist me with this goal? Please??

There are different angles to come from here and different strokes for different folks.
For me I'm all WWR and you can pick up complete WWR from Amazon as well as some ZvR stuff and that's what I'm into. Naturally I got sucked into some TKs & Popbots etc as well but all good.
There are also people into Isabelle & Pascha etc that I wouldn't take if they were being given away but that's the beauty of Ash Wood stuff so I suggest streamline what you're into and go from there then you'll find some stuff you like, some you don't but all good.
Welcome to our little world, hope you enjoy.

The Tomorrow Kings originate from the Popbot comics. Those comics are out of print and IDW doesn't have any current plans to reprint them. Their involvement in the Popbot comics is pretty minimal. The last issue to come out has the most TK content in it.

Their popularity came from the toys and art. Because there is so much interest in them Ash expanded their storyline, develop different ranks and factions, and was inspired to make some breathtaking art. That's how the TKs became what they are today.

There is a book called The art of Tomorrow Kings that contains all the TK artwork from 2008 until 2015 and is available on Amazon.

The TK stories are told in snippets of text with each figure that has come out – through newsletters, ads, snippets on the packaging, or from when Ash used to participate on the forums. There aren't any full scale dedicated TK comics or lengthy prose novels despite demand for them. Only Ash and TP Louise know the full extent of the stories.

What gregory said.

But here's my take...From what I gather, Ash is an artist first and second a businessman.    So he'll follow his creative endeavours first.  Get yourself the collected works to give you the foundation of the stories...Popbot collection, WWR collection.  You're not going to get your traditional collected stories.  More artwork left to interpretation and less story.  Personally I think that works for Ash in that it doesn't really cement anything, keeps things fluid and allows him to go wherever he pleases.  For Adventure Kartel stories you're just going to have to collect the figures which contain the poster/comics that have stories.  But again these stories have the tagline, "The Adventure Continues With You!"  So really you can make up you're own.  I think for anyone to really appreciate what Ash is doing you really have to be flexible and patient.  Don't be a back seat driver.  Otherwise you'll end your ride sooner than later.

Adventure Kartel

Art of Tomorrow Kings

World War Robot

Well said Chivo! Gotta go with the flow, it is what it is.

This helps a ton, thank you....I have Popbot V1 under my belt, V2 en route. Then WWR, ZvR, etc.
as per my usual life habits, I would like to know what’s going on with the crazy sexuality of Isabelle and that crew, but I’m not spending a dime on the figures (what’s going on with all the implied robo-cunnilingus, and can I learn something from those nabler guys? REALLY feel like I’m the only dude in the room who isn’t “in on the joke” so to speak.)

Anyway, this does help clear things up. Thanks guys.

Nablers are spirits that possess humans and affect those around them to let out inner inhibitions – whatever that may be. "enablers"  

Some unlock sexual inhibitions, some more violent tendencies, or some more peaceful/loving, etc. Different nabler for every thing

ash and the gangs art, always feels like a fragment of a view of a situation...picture.paint.polariod...like a puzzel/le...and we build our own worlds...with toys and heroes...be child/we arT

gregory wrote:Nablers are spirits that possess humans and affect those around them to let out inner inhibitions – whatever that may be. "enablers"  

Some unlock sexual inhibitions, some more violent tendencies, or some more peaceful/loving, etc. Different nabler for every thing

Ok where do I find this storyline in print?

gar wrote:Adventure Kartel

Art of Tomorrow Kings

World War Robot

Hey, can you tell me which Adventure Kartel I should get? I’m only finding two, but I think one is just the artwork, no “comic” component. Any advice?

The Nabler first appeared in the Miss + Mrs comics on Ash's old blog. He collected most of them into a printed book published by 3A.

There is no printed storyline, just information he's passed down through conversations and through his drawings/paintings.

The Adventure Kartel hardcover published by IDW is an 11x17" book that contains all of the comics/art included with the majority of the AK figures.

I forgot that AK book existed.  I guess 'cause it never sold on Bamba, right? I've got the figures so no biggie.

Adventure Kartel book contains all (or almost all) AK art work up to the Panda Mercs and Merde Mission in an insane huge hardcover book.

Zomb MD, Little Shadow wave 2 and other more recent releases are missing, though.
But since we've had a lot of stuff since than it is pretty complete.

I noticed 7174 Adventure Prelude has a lot of stories, scraps and shit from WWR, Adventure Kartel, Nabler, etc.
Some already released with toys 3AA packs and other books, sometimes several times, but it is nice to have them together in a 10x10" format.

You will drive yourself crazy if you try to collect all the info on these toys. Just have fun with them. Not sure if it is on these forums or the old ones but Ashley used to answer our questions, and there was some great info to be had.

Still waiting for another popbot collection.

Otherwise I treated each release like it was a bi-monthly comic...

... and then I created my own story.

That's a shame about the AK book, I was hoping it was a comic not just an artbook (which I will eventually buy)

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ZombieRepublican wrote:That's a shame about the AK book, I was hoping it was a comic not just an artbook (which I will eventually buy)

It isn't just an artbook, lots of short one poster/page stories and snippets as well. And a lot of box art, etc.

Highly recommended

and Adventure Kartel Hardcover is big:
28,4 x 43,2 cm (11 x 17")

One thing I love about Ashley Woods is his art books are BIG. As they should be!



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Speaking of Adventure Kartel, but in a moderate size:

A4 size Adventure Kartel Volume One will be released in April.

Really interested if he Ash will highlight the new figure stories he will launch this year.

gar wrote:Speaking of Adventure Kartel, but in a moderate size:

A4 size Adventure Kartel Volume One will be released in April.

Is this being release through Bamba? or Amazon?

gar wrote:Speaking of Adventure Kartel, but in a moderate size:

A4 size Adventure Kartel Volume One will be released in April.

That would be so great! I really would like to read some new Adventure Kartel stories. That is great news!

zendeluxe wrote:

gar wrote:Speaking of Adventure Kartel, but in a moderate size:

A4 size Adventure Kartel Volume One will be released in April.

That would be so great! I really would like to read some new Adventure Kartel stories. That is great news!

Agreed.

Don't know if there are new stories besides what we've already seen.
Most Adventure Kartel releases have already been featured in the original coffee table killer sized IDW released Adventure Kartel Volume One hardcover.
Except Zomb MD and later releases which spans the last 3.5 years, but a rather smal amount of releases.
"with new art and some others stuffs" sounds great, though and would add nicely to what would  be an already pretty hefty volume.